ABSTRACT
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Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Aged , Pulmonary Disease, Chronic ObstructiveABSTRACT
Fundamento y objetivo: Las hospitalizaciones por enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (EPOC) se producen mayoritariamente en pacientes de edad avanzada. Nuestro objetivo es describir las características y el tratamiento de los pacientes ancianos hospitalizados por EPOC en los servicios de Medicina Interna, comparados con el grupo de menor edad. Pacientes y método: Estudio observacional, prospectivo y multicéntrico. Se comparan las diferencias entre los pacientes mayores de 80 años y el resto respecto a comorbilidad, gravedad de la EPOC, ingresos previos, días de estancia y tratamiento prescrito. La comorbilidad se valoró mediante el índice de Charlson y un cuestionario diseñado al efecto.Resultados: Se incluyeron 398 sujetos, 353 de ellos varones (89%), con una edad media (DE) de 73,7 (8,8) años, de los que 107 (26,9%) eran mayores de 80 años. Estos pacientes tenían menor gravedad de la EPOC según la clasificación GOLD (p<0,02). Aunque la comorbilidad global fue similar en ambos grupos, los pacientes ancianos tenían mayor presencia de arritmias (p<0,01), de hipertrofia ventricular izquierda (p<0,01) y recibían más diuréticos (p<0,05). La disnea, días de estancia y mortalidad fueron similares entre ambas poblaciones. La oxigenoterapia domiciliaria previa al ingreso y el uso de corticoides inhalados y la oxigenoterapia domiciliaria fueron menores en los pacientes mayores, incluso cuando estaban clínicamente indicados.Conclusiones: Una cuarta parte de los pacientes hospitalizados por EPOC en los servicios de Medicina Interna tienen más de 80 años. Aunque presentan menor obstrucción, tienen un grado de disnea similar, mayor comorbilidad cardiaca y su tratamiento se ajusta menos a las recomendaciones de las guías (AU)
Background and objective: Hospitalizations for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) occur mostly in elderly patients. We describe the characteristics and treatment of elderly patients hospitalized for COPD in Internal Medicine Services, compared with the younger age group. Patients and methods: Observational, prospective, multicenter study. We compared the differences between patients older than 80 years and the rest regarding comorbidity, severity of COPD, previous admissions, length of stay and treatment prescribed. Comorbidity was assessed by the Charlson index and a questionnaire was designed for this purpose.Results: We included 398 subjects, 353 men (89%) with a mean age of 73.7 years (SD 8.8), of whom about 107 (26.9%) were older than 80 years. These patients had less severe COPD according to the GOLD classification (P<.02). Although the overall morbidity was similar in both groups, elderly patients had greater presence of arrhythmias (P<.01), left ventricular hypertrophy (P<.01) and received more diuretics (P<.05). Dyspnoea, length of stay and mortality were similar between both populations. Home oxygen therapy prior to and use of inhaled corticosteroids and oxygen therapy was lower in older patients, even when they were clinically indicated. Conclusions: A quarter of patients hospitalized for COPD in Internal Medicine Services are over 80 years. Although they present less obstruction, they have a similar degree of dyspnea, increased cardiac morbidity and their treatment is less consistent with the recommendations of the guidelines (AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/epidemiology , /statistics & numerical data , Recurrence , Comorbidity , Hospital Statistics , Severity of Illness IndexABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Hospitalizations for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) occur mostly in elderly patients. We describe the characteristics and treatment of elderly patients hospitalized for COPD in Internal Medicine Services, compared with the younger age group. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Observational, prospective, multicenter study. We compared the differences between patients older than 80 years and the rest regarding comorbidity, severity of COPD, previous admissions, length of stay and treatment prescribed. Comorbidity was assessed by the Charlson index and a questionnaire was designed for this purpose. RESULTS: We included 398 subjects, 353 men (89%) with a mean age of 73.7 years (SD 8.8), of whom about 107 (26.9%) were older than 80 years. These patients had less severe COPD according to the GOLD classification (P<.02). Although the overall morbidity was similar in both groups, elderly patients had greater presence of arrhythmias (P<.01), left ventricular hypertrophy (P<.01) and received more diuretics (P<.05). Dyspnoea, length of stay and mortality were similar between both populations. Home oxygen therapy prior to and use of inhaled corticosteroids and oxygen therapy was lower in older patients, even when they were clinically indicated. CONCLUSIONS: A quarter of patients hospitalized for COPD in Internal Medicine Services are over 80 years. Although they present less obstruction, they have a similar degree of dyspnea, increased cardiac morbidity and their treatment is less consistent with the recommendations of the guidelines.
